Green News

The Chevy Volt and other electric, hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles need high gas prices.  Without the threat looming of $4 per gallon gasoline it makes it difficult to stomach a $40,000 investment, in some cases.  Obviously the higher the fuel prices the shorter time it takes to break even and to have the electric car start actually saving you money.

Looking at it this way makes me look like I hate the environment, but that's not the case.  I'm all for doing my part to keep the Earth green and blue, but not at the cost of being in debt up to my eye balls without any return.  There must be a breaking point, where investment shows return, even when talking about green technology.  So, I guess this idea only applies to those who aren't independently wealthy green freaks.

No doubt if fuel prices remain relatively low it will devastate the huge investment companies like Chevrolet have made with the Volt.  Everyone was able to jump on board the research and development when gas prices were high, but what will happen financially to the company now that sales will be directly effected by the fuel prices?  Surely there will be more financial incentive to buy a new all electric car or at least lower the expected price all across the board.

I hope that we will see falling vehicle prices on all cars, trucks, suv's, and not just the special niche green market.  The idea that a vehicle should cost 1/2 as much as most peoples homes is getting to be a little bit ridiculous.  Let's start by slashing that all electric Chevy Volt price.

There are lots of conflicting information about he upcoming Chevy Volt, that just doesn't seem to add up.  Past news has presented the Volt in a light that makes the electric car look like GM's savior.  But what can an expensive vehicle focused on a small niche market do for a failing monster like GM?

Furthermore GM has announced that the Volt will get 230 miles per gallon, which is true, if you don't understand basic math.  This issue has been discussed at length with GM's 100 mpg Hummer as well, electric cars and hybrids have limitations, which aren't taken into consideration when figuring gas mileage.

All of this aside, from a strictly economic perspective, do you know how much gas I can buy for $40,000?  At a price of $3 per gallon I can purchase over 13,000 gallons.  Assuming I drive an average of 20,000 miles per year in a vehicle that gets an abysmal 16 mpg, I can purchase 10 YEARS worth of gasoline.  So, with a cost analyst of buying a Volt, the only people interested will be the rich hippies.

As far as I'm concerned, we still don't have a viable option to the traditional internal combustion engine.  Count me out until the next big thing hits.

Fuel Efficient Sports Cars

Chevrolet is showing the world that big power can also translate into big fuel efficiency.  The 2010 Camaro comes in several different trim packages, each sporting it's own miles per gallon ratings and some of these numbers will really surprise you.  Let's start with the smallest of the engines, the 3.9 V6 which is available in the base model 2010 Camaro.

3.9 V6 2010 Camaro LS

According to Chevy the 2010 base model V6 Camaro is capable of a whopping 29 miles per gallon.  Impressive on it's own, but this motor is also producing over 300 horsepower.  This technological advancement is a far cry from the 67 Camaro outfitted with the inline 6 cylinder.

6.2 V8 2010 Camaro SS

The beefiest version of the 2010 Camaro sports a huge 6.2 liter V8, which produces over 420 horsepower.  It's a bulging muscle machine, that's also capable of producing some respectable miles per gallon.  Consider that the SS Camaro gets 24 mpg highway, an efficiency never conceived in this size engine package before.

What the fuel economy in the 2010 Camaro means?

The numbers don't lie and if the 2010 Camaro proves to be dependable, then we will have a true leap in efficiency for usable sport vehicles.  This type of fuel efficient technology will slowly find it's way into SUV's, Trucks, and hopefully even more sports cars.  Perhaps the fear of single digit gas mileage in sports cars will permanently be a thing of the past.  Of course, depending on how heavy your foot is, mileage may vary.

It's been a little while since we've reported on the Chevy Volt and what it means to the domestic auto market.  Unfortunately, we haven't heard a lot, because there have been some doubts about the battery.  Consider the impact on GM if this final push for innovation launches with a thud, plagued by it's biggest technological advancement in decades, the Volt's battery.

To meet expectations and guarantees, the Chevy Volt's battery must be capable of at least 4,000 recharges and a 10 year life span.  Seems like a pretty tall order, considering that no technology exists amongst the li-ion type battery market.  Basically, it's starting from scratch, and hoping that come 2010 we have a marketable product that everyone will want.  As of this posting it's reported that the battery development has completed and we are only waiting on testing.

I just hope GM doesn't blow it's wad on a car that only delivers half of what was promised.  Already buyers remorse is setting in on the new car market, let's not make it worse with an overhyped product.  Chevy hopes to release the Volt on November 2010.

P.S. European markets will be getting a much nicer and sportier Chevy Volt.

Looks like I was correct, the 2010 Camaro recall list has began.  The only Camaro's affected by the recall will be the SS V8 models and ultimately pissing off only about 300 new 2010 Camaro owners.  The rest of the Camaro recalls can be performed in house before being delivered to their owners.

The 2010 Camaro recall is for a manufacturing defective battery cable.  Essentially this makes the Camaro completely die or in worst case scenarios catch fire.  As of this posting no fires have been reported due to the battery cable rubbing up agains the Camaro starter.

GM has agreed to not only fix the issue listed in the recall but also provide a free loaner vehicle and a free oil change for the new Camaro owners troubles.

2010 Camaro Recall

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Predictions

Every car manufacturers goal is to release a vehicle with zero recalls, but unfortunatley bugs make it through the system.  No doubt the upcoming release of the new Camaro will expose some problems, which will lead to a recall.  I decided to look back at the Camaro, to see if I can guess what kind of recall we might expect for the buyers of the all new hyped Camaro.

The very last year the Camaro was manufacturered it only had 3 recalls.  There were two exterior lighting problem and a structure frame issue.  The frame member recall with the Camaro was fixed by placing a few extra rivets into the frame, supposedly to conform to a specific safey requirement.  The exterior lighting recall on the 02 Camaro was simply an issue with not containing Amber reflectors, which failed to meet code of certain states.

The final hoo-ra for the Camaro was a good one, in terms of insignificant recalls.  Although safety is always important, the recall on the Camaro was not as serious as tire issues, combustible problems, which seem to plague other manufacturers.  And the exterior lighting problem has been an ongoing problem for the Camaro since 1997.  You'd think these guys would learn by now.

So, I predict that the first recall for the 2010 Camaro will be for an exterior lighting issue.  I'd also like to add that I suspect there will be more than 3 recalls on the newest release of the Camaro, considering it's 'all new'.  The last time we saw the Camaro it had already been through the gauntlet, so most bugs were worked out.  The end of this year, when the 2010's start showing up on our roads, will be a whole new ball game.

Discuss 2010 Camaro Recalls and Your Predictions

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It's official, the 2010 Indianapolis 500 pace car will the 2010 Camaro.  It's badged and beautiful and brings back memories of the 1996 Brick Yard Camaro pace car debacle I found myself a little too close to.

I used to work for a very large Kmart, where myself and the general manager were car nuts.  Well, I believe it was Budweiser who helped bring in the Pace Car for promotion purposes and it was supposed to remain on Kmart's premises.  The manager got special permission to take the car out for a night for a drive, being the nut he is, well I was gonna get to go for a ride.  That ride never happened.

The next day I found out that the manager had let his 16 year old son drive the car around the block of his neighborhood.  The planets aligned, but so did a Chevy Silverado in the side fo the 1996 Chevy Camaro Pace Car.  Nobody was injured, but the car was a compelte wreck.

We never were priviledged enough to receive special edition vehicles at our location.  And others were warned never to trust any Kmart employees with keys.

2010 Camaro Indy 500 Pace Car

Believe it or not the Opel Ampera is a Chevy Volt for the European market.  Not just simply rebranded like the Australian version Holden Volt, the Opel simply looks like a car I would want to buy.  So why does the European version of the Volt look so much riskier than the American version?

Opel Ampera

Of course we are still probably 2 years away from it's actual release and concept cars have been known for their extreme styling, but the idea is grand.  The lowered look, performance design, its possible out of an electric car...right?

What makes a Monte Carlo an SS?  The Super Sport badge is not bestowed on all of our beloved and often buxom Monte's.  The SS badge means more, means there is meat, means that the boat coming down the road is quite possibly a sleeper ready to put your sorry ride to bed.

The Monte Carlo SS has meant a few different things over the years, but the latest generation has meant the least.  In the first generation of the Monte Carlo there were 4 different engine configurations available.  The SS option gave the Monte it's biggest engine available, the merciless 454 cubic inch.  That option alone netted the Monte Carlo with over 360 horsepower, arguably much needed power considering how big the beast was.

1970 Monte Carlo SS

Only 3 short years later the Monte Carlo was on to it's 2nd Generation modeling.  The 454 lived on, but lacked the SS badge of the previous generation Monte.  1977 was the last year of the 2nd Generation Monte Carlo and so died the massive 454, only to have a 305 the largest engine available for the 3rd Generation Monte Carlo.

The 3rd generation Monte Carlo was kind of a ho hum period.  However, it's what was needed to start a refocusing on performance and what could potentially be the greatest Monte Carlo SS generation ever, the 4th.  The 4th Generation Monte Carlo lasted all the way until 1988 and signaled a hiatus for the Monte.

1987 Monte Carlo SS

The 4th generation Monte Carlo SS had a lot of distinguishing characteristics, to separate it from it's non SS badge wearing brethren.  Although some ques required a trained eye, lettering like SS on the door hinted at what may be lurking under the hood.  Other suttle differences of the Monte Carlo Ss were bullet style mirrors, different rear bumper, and some paint styles that were only available on the SS models.

4th Generation Monte's were in my opinion the last true to form meaty car offered, at least in optional gear.  The 5th generation Monte Carlo's were resurected as some sort of sedan, Lincoln, small car combo.  They didn't look sporty at all and if you glanced at them just right it looked like a 4-door Ford Taurus.  Hello!  The biggest power offerings in the 5th Generation Monte Carlo was a measely 215 horsepower from a V6 DOHC power plant.

1997 Monte Carlo

Finally 2000 rolled around and the Monte Carlo was starting to look more sporty and less like a chopped top mini van.  The SS was offered again and was packing a pretty hefty punch.  How about a 5.7 litre V8 with over 300 horsepower?  It's enough to get your attention, but not enough to hang onto Chevy's assembly line.  The Monte Carlo and Monte Carlo SS was abandoned in 2007 and as of this posting the future is uncertain.

2007 Monte Carlo SS

My guess is that Chevrolet is more concerned with reviving the Camaro SS and won't be bringing the Monte Carlo back any time soon.  Although with the Ford Mustang having a retro throwback, depending on how the Camaro stacks up Chevy might decide that the automotive market needs just one more power grabber on the market and label it the Monte Carlo SS.

Monte Carlo SS on eBay

Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 1984 Chevy Monte Carlo SS – True “SS” L69    US $3,495.00

Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2dr Cpe SS 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 2dr Cpe SS    US $212.50

Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Coupe 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Custom Modified 1 of Kind    US $6,950.00

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